Parliament – Lok Sabha Set for Heated Debate on Motion Against Speaker
Parliament – The Lok Sabha is expected to witness intense political exchanges as the second phase of the Budget Session resumes on Monday, with the Opposition pushing a motion seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla. The development signals growing tensions between the ruling alliance and Opposition parties in Parliament. According to the official schedule, the motion against the Speaker is the only item listed for discussion in the Lower House for the day.
Opposition Move Marks Rare Parliamentary Development
The proposal to remove the Speaker is an unusual parliamentary development and has not been attempted in nearly forty years. Sources familiar with the proceedings indicate that the government may allot around three hours for the debate on the motion. During the discussion, three members each from the ruling benches and the Opposition are expected to present their arguments.
Among those likely to participate in the debate from the Congress party are Lok Sabha Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi and senior leader K. C. Venugopal. Other Opposition representatives are also expected to raise concerns regarding the conduct of the Chair and broader issues related to parliamentary procedures and debate management in the House.
Numbers Favor the Ruling Alliance
Both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress have issued whips asking their Members of Parliament to be present in the House during the debate and voting. Despite the Opposition’s efforts, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance holds a comfortable majority in the 543-member Lok Sabha, giving the ruling side a clear advantage in defeating the motion.
However, the Opposition camp gained some momentum after the Trinamool Congress announced its support for the motion over the weekend. The party had earlier not signed the notice submitted to the Lok Sabha Secretariat but later confirmed that it would stand with other Opposition parties during the debate.
Prime Minister Expresses Support for Speaker
Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly backed Om Birla on Saturday, stating that the Speaker has consistently upheld the principles of the Constitution and parliamentary democracy. The statement from the Prime Minister was seen as a clear indication that the ruling alliance will firmly defend Birla during the proceedings.
Meanwhile, Opposition leaders maintain that the motion reflects their dissatisfaction with how the Speaker has handled certain debates and decisions inside the House.
Reasons Behind the Removal Motion
The notice for the motion was submitted by 118 Opposition Members of Parliament. They accused the Speaker of not allowing Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and several other Opposition leaders adequate opportunity to speak during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address.
Opposition parties also raised objections over the suspension of eight of their MPs during earlier proceedings. According to the notice, these actions reflect what they describe as a partisan approach in conducting the business of the House.
Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi, Chief Whip K. Suresh, and party whip Mohammed Javed formally submitted the resolution to the Lok Sabha Secretariat on behalf of multiple Opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
Speaker May Defend Position During Debate
If the motion is taken up as scheduled, it will present a rare situation in which Speaker Om Birla will not preside over the proceedings. Instead, he will sit among other members of the House while the debate takes place.
Parliamentary rules allow the Speaker to defend himself during the discussion. He is also entitled to cast his vote when the resolution is eventually put to vote after the debate concludes.
Normally, the language of such a resolution is reviewed by the Deputy Speaker before being admitted. However, since the current Lok Sabha does not have a Deputy Speaker, the responsibility may fall on the senior-most member from the panel of chairpersons.
Historical Context of Similar Motions
Attempts to move no-confidence motions against Lok Sabha Speakers have been rare in India’s parliamentary history. In the past, similar notices were brought against Speakers G. V. Mavlankar in 1954, Hukam Singh in 1966, and Balram Jakhar in 1987.
While the motions against Mavlankar and Jakhar were defeated after discussion in the House, the notice against Hukam Singh was not admitted because it did not receive the required level of support from Members of Parliament.
Other Issues Likely to Surface in the Session
Apart from the motion targeting the Speaker, the Opposition is also expected to raise concerns about international developments during the session. Recent tensions in West Asia, including US–Israel strikes on Iran and disruptions in crude oil supply, have triggered concerns over rising global energy prices.
Opposition leaders are likely to question the government’s position and diplomatic approach regarding the situation and its potential impact on India’s energy security and economy.